BOTTOM LINE
Decent Slowburn Crime Drama
PLATFORM
ZEE5
RUNTIME
120 Minutes
What Is the Film About?
Govindu, a police officer by profession and a farmer by passion, leads a quiet life with his family in Nalkeri, a supposedly crime-free village nestled in Malenadu. His idyllic routine is disrupted when Srinivasaiah, a respected elder, dies under mysterious circumstances. Sensing something amiss, Govindu begins an investigation that draws in Rohit, a tech enthusiast, and Pankaja, the former lover of Srinivasaiah’s son, Arun.
Performances
Rangayana Raghu gets a rare role that fully taps into his experience and range, with a solid, layered performance. His brooding screen presence is a delight to watch. Similarly, Sharath Lohitashwa, often cast in one-note roles, is refreshing in a sedate, well-intentioned part – a smart casting choice.
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Siddu Moolimani brings vibrant energy to the screen and shares a warm camaraderie with Paavana Gowda, who delivers a raw, sincere performance. Others, including Ravishankar Gowda, Yamuna Srinidhi, and Hari Samashti, leave an impression in their brief yet meaningful parts.
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Analysis
Set in the late 1990s, Agnyathavasi unfolds in the lush, rain-soaked landscapes of Malenadu, where the sleepy village of Nalkeri remains untouched by crime and hesitant to embrace modernity. The region hasn’t seen a single police case in years, and most villagers are unaware that Govindu is even a police officer. That changes when two suspicious deaths occur on the same day.
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Director Janardhan Chikkana opens the film on a moody, introspective note, with Govindu reflecting on personal loss during his mother’s death anniversary. The passing of Srinivasaiah nudges him back into duty. Rather than rushing into the mystery, the film takes its time establishing the village’s quiet rhythm and the complex web of relationships among its residents.
The film isn’t afraid to indulge in dark humour in its early stages, especially in the way villagers mock Govindu for suspecting foul play. The tonal shifts, from melancholy to dry humour to everyday mundanity, catch you off guard, until the story gradually leans into its crime narrative.
One of the film’s most intriguing segments captures Nalkeri’s bittersweet welcome to the early internet era. Young Rohit convinces his father to buy the village’s first PC, which helps him connect with Arun, now in the US, and Arun’s former lover, Pankaja. What begins as a playful subplot slowly takes a darker turn, leading characters to make impulsive choices with serious consequences.
Yet Agnyathavasi isn’t just about solving a mystery. The film also explores Govindu’s unresolved grief, which resurfaces in unexpected ways. The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives and plays out more as a whydunit than a whodunit, with a focus on the emotional and psychological consequences of crime. A few timely surprises keep the drama engaging.
The screenplay gets a lot right, especially its unpredictable shifts between past and present. You’re not always sure where the story is headed, and while this can feel confusing at first, the eventual payoffs justify the detours. Within the limitations of the genre, the film manages to offer a fond yet unsentimental look at a bygone era, without romanticising rural life.
Where the film stumbles is in the final act. A lengthy, melodramatic flashback drains its momentum and doesn’t serve as a strong enough foundation for the protagonist’s emotional baggage. A more restrained, matter-of-fact approach may have worked better. Also, the female characters are disappointingly shallow, resembling television serial tropes. As a result, their motivations feel underdeveloped and difficult to connect with.
Agnyathavasi adopts a unique, inward-looking, psychological approach to an unconventional crime saga with a flawed protagonist. It ventures into uncharted territories, supported by strong performances and impressive cinematography. While it could have benefited from a more consistent narrative and a stronger climax, it remains an earnest indie effort that mostly works, despite its blemishes.
Music and Other Departments?
Charan Raj gives it all in a film that takes a newer turn every half an hour – he brings a seamlessness to the proceedings with his neat score and songs, complementing the intentions of the filmmaker. One of Kannada cinema’s brighter spots in the recent years – cinematographer Advaitha Gurumurthy explores life in a quaint town with the impartial eye of an insider. The screenplay and editing decisions keep you guessing mostly but leave you occasionally perplexed too. The two-hour runtime is just about ideal for the premise
Highlights?
Unique approach to the crime genre
Music and cinematography
Strong performances
Drawbacks?
Uneven narrative
Melodramatic flashback leading to the climax
Doesn’t fully do justice to its premise
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, generally
Will You Recommend It?
If you have patience and enjoy offbeat crime dramas
Agnyathavasi Zee5 OTT Movie Review by M9
